The year was 1973, Richard Nixon was in the White House, OPEC oil prices had increased by 200 percent and Secretariat was winning the Triple Crown in horse racing, when a group of women in Lindsborg decided to team up and begin delivering meals to senior citizens. “I wasn’t part of that group but I love what Meals on Wheels is helping us do today,” said Kristine Whetstone.

She recently teamed up with her husband to make lunch deliveries on a snowy day in Little Sweden. “We drop off the meal with a simple, “Hi! How are you doing?” and check to make sure they are doing well,” Whetstone said.

The nutritious meals are made at the Lindsborg Community Hospital and then picked up by volunteers who are scheduled to deliver on that day of the month. Whetstone says on most days they can complete the round trip in under an hour.

According to the national organization, millions of Meals on Wheels volunteers help to deliver 220 million meals to about 2.4 million seniors each year. To help offset the cost, Whetstone adds, donations come from private citizens, memorial funds and from TACOL (The Associated Churches Of Lindsborg).

“The Lord’s helped us to continue to feed people for this many years without missing a day!”

Lindsborg’s Senior Center, located at 116 S. Main Street, also provides meals for visitors during weekdays.

Meals on Wheels was established in Philadelphia, PA in 1954.